Mary Henry Diary, 1864-1868

About the Project

Moving beyond the figurative cusp of war, Mary Henry lived at the line of secession – she could see the Confederate States of America from her home in the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle. Learn more about the course of the entire Civil War and events in Washington, D.C. as you transcribe this diary.

Living on the borderline between states in Washington, D.C., Mary Henry (1834-1903) was acquainted with the complicated fractures of war. In the Castle, Mary and her family entertained military leaders and heard firsthand accounts of the war and strategy. The entries also detail the ways Mary observed soldiers in the streets of the city and in make-shift hospitals, set up with the help and expertise of her close friend Dorothea Dix.

This diary spans the years of 1864-1868 and includes details of life in the Washington, D.C. during the Civil War. Mary covers the height, end, and conclusion of the Civil War in her entries. With observations about a country in struggles of reconstruction, her entries include details of visitors to the Castle, her father's work with the Smithsonian, and events of the Civil War.

As you transcribe this diary, you'll read about reports on major battles and understand the ways the death of Abraham Lincoln was received. Learn more about Mary Henry, the Smithsonian Institution, and the end of war from the Smithsonian Institution Archives.

Moving beyond the figurative cusp of war, Mary Henry lived at the line of secession – she could see the Confederate States of America from her home in the Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle. Learn more about the course of the entire Civil War and events in Washington, D.C. as you transcribe this diary.